[Antibodies against HIV-2 (LAV-II) in Africa and West Germany]

Antibodies against HIV-2 were tested by indirect immunofluorescence in over 2000 sera from Africa and the Federal Republic of Germany. The specificity of the test for HIV-2 was established by absorption of the sera with HIV-1 infected cells. Antibodies against HIV-2 were found in sera from two of 51 Africans who are living in the FRG. In addition, antibodies against HIV-2 were occasionally found in two of 1396 sera from Central Africa and two of 322 from West Africa. Cross-reacting antibodies were found in four of 189 high risk patients from the FRG who had HIV-1 infection, these antibodies no longer being present after absorption. It would therefore seem that HIV-2 infections are still rare among German risk groups.